Driving mechanism for automatic bar stock machines and the like



Sept 6, 1949. E. J. ROBKZHAUD J DRIVING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC BAR STOCK MACHINES AND THE LIKE Original Filed Aug. 15, 1945 T Sheets-Sheet l S am. 194% E. J. ROBICHAUD 2,481,153

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC BAR STOCK MACHINES AND THE LIKE Original Filed Aug. 15, 1945 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 mamas filept & mm E. J. ROBICHAUD DRIVING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC BAR STOCK MACHINES AND THE LIKE Original Filed Aug. 13. 1945 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept 1949- E. .a. ROBICHAUD DRIVING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC BAR STOCK MACHINES AND THE LIKE Original Filed Aug. 1'5, 1945 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept 6, 1949. E. J. ROBICHAUD 2,481,153

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC BAR STOCK MACHINES AND THE LIKE Original Filed Aug. 13, 1945 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 p 1949- E. J. ROBICHAUD 2,481,153

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC BAR STOCK MACHINES AND THE LIKE Original Filed Aug. 13. 1945 7 Sheets-Sheet 6- N t ZNVFNDTOR. BY Z E i DRIVING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC BAR STOCK MACHINES AND THE LIKE Original Filed Aug. 13. 1945 '7 Sheets-Sheet '7 W 2 1% i fay W117i 1 21/ e T e e W W lN VENTOR..

Patented Sept. 6, 1949 DRIVING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC BAR STOCK MACHINES AND THE LIKE Edmund J. Robichaud, Middletown, Conn, as-

signor to Ehe Billings and Spencer Company, Hartford, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Original application August 13, 1945, Serial No.

610,566. Divided and this application November 5, 1946, Serial No. 707,909

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to the provision of an automatic bar stock machine and is directed more particularly to such a'machine where a bar or bars of stock are fed forwardly and clamped in a rotating spindle so that an object is formed on the end of the bar and then out off and this application is a division of an application Ser. No. 610,566 filed August 13, 1945.

The principal objects of the invention are the provision of novel driving mechanism for an automatic bar stock machine which is characterized by means for operating plural work spindles and tool slides cooperatin therewith so that objects may be formed on bars carried by said spindles.

Various and numerous novel objects and advantages will be observed in connection with the followingdescription of the invention in the form at present preferred, it being understood that various changes'and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a machine embodying the novel features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the machine shown in Fig. 1 taken at the power end thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevational view on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1'to illustrate the driving mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a developed sectional plan view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a plan view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 to illustrate the brake mechanism;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged end view of the overrunning clutch of the driving mechanism;

Fig. '7 is a front elevational view of the brake mechanism shown in Fig. 5 taken outside the wall of the power housing;

Fig. 8'is a sectional elevational view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevational view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is a partial front elevational View on the line ill-40 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a front elevational view of the bar stop mechanism, and Fig. 12 is a sectional elevational view on the line l2--|2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a sectional elevational View on the line l3-l3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 14 is a sectional elevational view of the head stock of the machine taken on the longitudinal center line thereof and on the line l4-I4 of Fig. 15; 1 Fig. 15 is a sectional plan view through the 2 head stock shown in Fig. 14 and on the line 15-- of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is an elevational view of the inner side of the head stock and on the line Iii-l6 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 17 and 18 are elevati-onal views 'of the front working and rear faces of a cam for operating one of the cross slides; and

Fig. 19 is a sectional plan view on E9 of Fig. 16.

Referring now to the drawings in detail the invention will be more fully described in connection with an automatic bar stock machine so as to explain the driving mechanism and its operation.

-A power case or housing 4 with which driving mechanism is associated is fixed to the righthand end of the base construction. This may be called the power end of the machine.

A head stock-6 is fixed to the opposite or tool end of the base construction which is connected the line 19- to the housing 2 by a longitudinal strut 8.

a A motor I0 is fixed to the housing 4 and through mechanism to be described longitudinal inner drive and outer cam shafts are operated therefrom. The outer cam shaft has a cam drum [2 fixed thereto and said shafts extend into the head stock for operating the spindles, etc.,-all as will later be described.

The cam drum l2 has a cam I4 for moving a tool slide 16 for end tools back and forth, a cam If! for operating stop mechanism for bar stock, a cam 20 for operating high speed clutch mechanism and associated parts and a brake mechanism 22 all of which will presently be described.

The power mechanism will now be described with particular reference to Figs. 2, 3 and 4 to 10 inclusive.

A shaft 24 of the motor has a pulley 26 fixed thereto that is connected by a belt 28 in engagement with a pulley 30 fixed on a shaft 32. This shaft 32 may be called the high speed shaft and it is journalled in inner and outer walls 34 and 36 of the housing, see Fig. 4.

A pinion 38 fixed on shaft 32 is in mesh with an idler 40 rotatable on a stud 42 of wall 36. Said idler 4|] is in mesh with a gear 44 fixed on a shaft 46 journalled in the wall 36. A gear 48 fixed on said shaft 46 meshes with a gear 50 fixed on a shaft 52.

The shaft 52 is journalled in the wall 36 of the housing 4 and extends longitudinally into the head stock. It will be called the main drive shaft and is rotated from the motor through the belt-pulley and gearing described at all times while the motor is in operation.

A pinion 54 fixed on shaft 52, see Fig.4,meshes 3 with a gear 56 which has a pinion 58 fixed thereto. A gear 60 fixed on a shaft 62, rotatable in the housing wall 36, is in mesh with the pinion 53 and said shaft has a gear 64 fixed thereto which is in mesh with a pinion 66 of an inner clutch member 63 which is rotatable in the wall 36.

Thus through the belt pulley and gear connections described, the clutch member 63 is rotated When the motor is in operation.

The clutch member rotatably receives an end of a shaft Tl] which has its opposite end journalled in the wall 34. Said shaft may be called the lowspeed feed shaft.

A friction clutch mechanism I2 which may be called the high-speed clutch is associated. with the high-speed shaft 32. This may be of usual form adapted when engaged to clutch a sprocket M to said shaft 32 as a collar part '16 thereof is moved downwardly into clutching position by a rod .78 which is slidable back and forth relative to wall 34.

A chain 80 is in engagement with sprocket l4 and with a sprocket 82 associated with an outer part 84 of the overrunning clutch 85 of which innor part 68 is a component.

A friction clutch 88 operable by a collar 96 has a part carrying a sprocket 92. The clutch 88 may be of any well known type adapted as its collar 9% is moved back and forth to engage and disengage the sprockets 82 and 92.

The overrunning clutch, best shown in Fig. 6, includes the usual inner member having the inclined sockets 94 and rolls 96.

When the high-speed clutch i2 connects the sprocket E4 to the high-speed shaft 32 and the g:

clutch 88 is engaged, the sprocket 92 is driven at high speed and the outer member 84 of the overrunning clutch overruns the inner member 68 thereof which is driven through the gearing. When clutch 12 is disengaged the sprocket 92 is driven at low speed through the gearing and overrunning clutch 86.

A hollow shaft I06 surrounding the shaft 52 and called the cam-shaft has an end journalled in housing wall 34, see Fig. 4, with a gear I62 fixed thereon. A spider I64 rotatable on the shaft I66 has pinions I66 which are in mesh with a gear I08 fixed to wall 34 in any convenient manner and in mesh with gear I62.

A sprocket H6 is frictionally engaged between spider I04 and a plate II2 and is connected by a chain II4 to sprocket 92. The gears I62 and I-68 are preferably provided with fifty-eight and fiftysix teeth respectively. The frictional action of the members I64, H6 and H2 may be varied by means of adjusting screws, and as the sprocket III) is rotated the spider IE4. is driven through friction so that through the pinions and gear I68 and gear I02 is driven to rotate the cam shaft at high or low speed accordingly as high speed clutch is engaged or disengaged.

It is desired to provide means for hand cranking sprocket 92 and. thereby the cam shaft and to that end the following is provided, see Figs. 4, 9 and 10.

A gear H6 is fast to sprocket 92 which meshes with a pinion I20 that is rotatable with a gear I22 on a shaft I2d of the housing. An idler gear I26 is in mesh with gear I22 on a shaft I28 which is slidable in the housing. A sprin pressed detent I36 is spring pressed, as shown, into engagement with circumferential grooves I32 of shaft I28.

A connected together pinion I34 and sprocket I36 are rotatable on a stud I38 and the said sprocket is connected by a chain I40 to a sprocket I42 fixed to a shaft I44 which is rotatable in the housing. A crank M6 is provided on said shaft I44.

A transverse .shaft I48 is oscillatable in the housing and carries a fork I56 in engagement with the part 90 of the clutch 88. An arm I52 is fixed on said shaft I48 as are operating levers I54 on opposite ends thereof.

With the parts as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the shaft I48 may not be oscillated to clutch engaging position, or counterclockwise as the arm I52 will on such movement of the shaft I48 bring up against idler I26. In this position the gear I I 8 and sprocket 92 may be rotated through the gearing and sprocket-chain connections by rotation of the crank I46.

To permit the clutch 88 to be engaged by swinging of lever I54 to the left in Fig. 10, the shaft I28 and thereby the gear I26 may be moved outwardly to disconnect gears I22 and I34 and remove the gear I26 from in front of arm I52. Thus clutch 88 cannot be engaged while the cam-shaft I66 is being hand-cranked and the cranking mechanism is inoperative When clutch 88 is engaged.

The spindle mechanism and driving arrangement therefor will be described in connection with Figs, 14 to 19 inclusive.

The head stock 5 includes a housing having inner and outer walls I60 and l62, side walls I64 and a rearwardly extending part I 66 with a cover 68 around the upper part thereof.

The cam shaft I 06 is journalled in the wall I66 and the end of the main drive shaft 52 extends therebeyond and is journalled in an anti-friction bearing I76 of wall I62. A stationary shaft I12 is carried by the wall I62 and extension I66, as shown, and will be held against movement by any suitable means, such as a set screw, in the part I66 in engagement therewith.

An upper cam shaft I14 and a lower cam shaft I16 are journalled at opposite ends in the walls I66 and I62.

Upper and lower cross-slides I18 and I86 are slidable back and forth between gibs I 82 associated with the wall I66 and transversely of the axis of the shafts 52 and I06. The upper slide I18 may be the cut-off slide and is provided with pads I 84 provided with T-slots I86 in which cutoff tools or tool holders may be clamped. This cut-off slide moves back and forth and as it moves to the left in Fig. 16 tools carried thereby may operate on a bar of stock carried by spindles S to cut oifan object formed on the end portion thereof.

The lower slide I86 may be the forming slide and is provided with pads I88 having T-slots ISO in which tools or tool holders may be clamped. As this slide moves to the right in Fig. 16, the tools carried thereby may operate on and form an object on the ends of bars of stock carried by the spindles S.

Cam discs I92 are fixed to the shafts I14 and I16 for operating the slides described. These cam discs may have outer and inner cam members I94 and I96 secured to the face thereof to provide a roll groove. A gear such as I98 is associated with each cam which meshes with a gear 266 fixed on the cam shaft I00,

The gears I96 are provided with a plurality of bolt receiving holes 260' and the cam discs are provided with tapped holes 204. The holes of the gears and of the cams are spaced so that a certain hole of a gear and cam may receive a bolt 206.

.In that way the angular relation of a gear and cam may be varied to vary the timing or operation of a cam.

The slides have rearwardly projecting hub 208 extending through slots 209 in wall I60 which carry studs 2 I 0 on which are cam rolls 2 I2 engages able by the cams I94 and I96 see Fig. 1'1. As the cams are rotated the forming and cut-01f slides are moved back and forth.

The spindles S are rotatable on axes disposed at either side of the shafts 52 and I12, see Fig. 15. The spindles may be of usual form having hollow collets M4 in their forward ends that arecontracted to grip a bar of stock and allowed to expand to release said bar. Said spindles are journalled in the walls I60 and I62, by means of antifriction bearing 2I6 and 2I8, as shown.

Stock feed tubes 2I8' extend from the outer rear ends of the hollow spindles and through bearings 220 and have grooved collars 222 on the outer ends thereof. Grooved collars 224 on the spindles S are associated with the draw tubes thereof for contracting the collets.

A member 226 slidable back and forth on the shaft I12 has fingers 221 engaging the grooves of collars 222 and a member 228 slidable on said shaft has fingers 230 engaging the grooves of collars 224. As the member 226 is moved forwardly or to the right in Fig. 15 the bars of stock are fed forwardly in the spindles. As the member 228 is moved rearwardly or to the left in said figure the collets are contracted for gripping the bars for rotation thereof.

Rolls 221' and 229 are provided on the slidable members 226 and 228. A tension spring 234 has opposite ends connected by members 236 and 238 to the slidable member 226 and the wall I62, as shown in Fig. 14. This spring urges roll 221' into engagement with a cam pad240 of a cam drum 242 which is fixed on shaft I14.

Cam :pads 244 and 246 on said cam drum 242 act on roll 229 to move member 228 back and forth.

A gear 248 on shaft 52 meshes with gears 250 on the spindles S see Fig. 15 and as said shaft rotates the said spindles are rotated. Likewise when the cam shaft I00 is rotated the upper and lower shafts I14 and I16 are rotated thereby to move the slides back and forth while the collet actuating member and feed member 228 and 226 are operated by rotation of said shaft I14.

The strut 8 is connected at one end by bolts or some suitable means to the wall I60 While its other end is similarly connected to the housing 4.

Stops are provided for the slides I18 and I80, as shown in Fig. 16. Straps 256 adjacent one end of the slides are secured to wall I60 by screws 256 and stop screws 260 are adjustable in said straps which have end portions 262 receivable in holes in the slides. At the other ends of the slide screws 264 which are adjustable in blocks 266 carried by the slides have flanges 268 between which and abutments 210 secured to the wall I60 are springs 210.

The members 224 of the spindles for operating the spindle collets may be manually operated as in Fig. 15. Shafts 216 having squared outer ends 218 for receiving a hand lever and have levers 280 secured to inner ends thereof which carry rolls 282 disposed in grooves of the members 224. By oscillating shafts 216 the members may be moved back and forth to open and close the lcollets.

Stop means for the bars of stock in the spindles will now be described with reference to Figs. '1, 11' and 12.

, The. strut 8 is provided with longitudinal grooves 28-6 on its opposite sides in which tongues 281 of brackets 288 are slidable. Screws 290 receivable in holes 292 in the strut are provided to clamp the brackets 288 in adjusted positions. The brackets have generally vertically disposed guides 294 in which there are guidewaysfor slides 296 with plates 298 overlying the guideways. A crank 300 is pivoted at 302 to ears 304 of the brackets 294 and lower arms 30I of the crank have end portions that are receivable in sockets 306 of the stop slides 296. Springs 308 in grooves 3I0 at one side of the slides are disposed above screws 3I2 of the brackets to urge the slides upwardly.

The lower ends of the stop slides 296 arearranged when the slides are in lower stop positions to lie in front of the spindles S and against which the ends of the bars of stock abut thereby to stop feeding of the bars and position them for the machinin operation.

The crank is swung counterclockwise to move the stop slides downwardly while the springs tend to urge the slides upwardly. The brackets 288 are adjustable back and forth to vary the length of feed of the bars of stock.

A rod 308 is slidable in bearings strut 8, see Fig. 1. ries a cam roll 3I2 which is operably related to the cam I8 and its other end is pivotally connected to a link 314 which in turn is pivotally connected to crank 300. Various holes are pro-' vided in the link 3I4, as shown, for connecting to the crank 300 to accommodate adjustment of the. brackets 288. As the cam I8 rotates the rod 308 is reciprocated to bring about swinging of crank 300 thereby to operate the stops 296.

The slide I6 for the end tools will now be described with particular reference to Figs. 1 and 13.

The said slide I6 is slidable between gibs 320 and it has an upper head portion 322 through which the cam shaft I00 and drive shaft 52 extend. T-slots 324 in opposite sides of the head are provided in which a tool-holder or tool may be secured for operating on the ends of bars of stock in the spindles. A roll 32 6, see Fig. 1, is

310 of the carried by said slide I6 which is in engagement with cam I4. The rotation of the cam moves the slide back and forth to bring the tools carried thereby into the bars of stock.

The brake mechanism will now be described with reference to Figs. 1, 4, '1 and 8.

A brake drum 330 is associated with the cam drum I2 rearwardly of cam 20 thereof and a brake band 332 is in frictional engagement therewith. A lever 334 is pivoted at 336 to the wall 34 and has an upper arm 338 and a lower arm 340. A rod 342 secured to one end of the brake 'loand passes through lever part 338 and a spring 344 is disposed thereon between lever part 338 and nuts 346. The other end of the brake band is connected to the lower end 340 of the lever 334.

A manually engageable lever 348 is swingable at 350 in a horizontal plane and is connected at 352 to rod 18 for operating the high speed clutch 12. Said rod 18 is provided with a tapering cam member 354 which is adapted to engage the upper portion of lever part 338. A roll 356 on the underside of lever 348 is operatively related to cam 20 so that as the cam drum I2 rotates the lever 348 is actuated so as to operate the high speed clutch through rod 18 and also to act on One end of the said'rod care.

7 lever 334 by swinging it counterclockwise for applying the brake.

A latch 360 is pivoted at 362 and has an outer end for latching over and holding the lever 348 against swinging outwardly, see Fig. 8. A roll 364 on the inner end of the latch lever 3 60 is engageable by a cam patch 3% on cam 20 and as the cam rotates the latch is operated to release lever 348. A spring pressed detent 3B8 acts on the latch lever 360 to urge it downwardly into latching position.

The operation of the machine will now be described it being understood that the motor I is in operation and that bars of stock are clamped in the spindles S with inner ends thereof projecting outwardly for engagement by the tools for the machining operation.

The shaft 52 is driven through the gearing so that the spindles are rotated according to a speed depending upon the gearing ratios.

The high speed clutch i2 is disengaged so that shaft through the overrunning clutch 86 and gearing is rotated at low speed to rotate cam shaft I08 at low speed whereby the forming end tool slide and cut-off slide are operated in timed relation by their respective cams to form objects on the ends of the bars of stock and cut them off.

Subsequently the cam brings about 1novement of rod 18 to engage the high-speed clutch 12 so that shaft 10 is driven through chain 39 at high speed thereby to drive cam shaft at a faster speed. Thereupon the cams of cam drum 242 operate the members 228 and 223 so that the collets are expanded and the bars of stock are fed forwardly in the spindles S. The cam it operates the stop mechanism so that the stops 296 are in position in front'of the bars of stock being advanced. Then the collets are contracted to grip the bars of stock.

With the bars of stock presenting inner ends beyond the spindles and on which objects are to be formed, the cam 20 operates lever 3 28 which through rod 7-8 disengages the high speed clutch 72 so that the shaft '19 and thereby the cam shaft lot will be operated at low speed through the gearing and overrunning clutch. As rod 18 disengages the high speed clutch the cam 354 thereof acts on lever 334 to apply the brake band 332 thereby to retard cam shaft we as the driving connections are shifted from high to low speed operation.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms Without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. ence, the present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects merely as being illustrative and not as being restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all modifications and variations as fall Within the meaning and purview and range of equivalency of the appended claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1 Drive mechanism for a machine of the class described comprising in combination, a housing, a high speed shaft rotatable therein, a low speed shaft rotatable therein, concentric drive and cam shafts journalled in the housing, gearing connecting the high speed and drive shafts, an overrunning clutch associated with the low speed shaft having an inner and an outer member on the low speed shaft, gearing connecting said drive shaft and inner member, sprockets on said high speed shaft and outer member, a chain engaging the sprockets, clutch means for clutching the sprocket on the high speed shaft thereto, a driving connection between said outer member and cam shaft, and means operable by said cam shaft for operating said clutch means.

2. Drive mechanism for a machine of the class described comprising in combination, a housing, a high speed shaft rotatable therein, a low speed shaft rotatable therein, concentric drive and cam shafts journalled in the housing, gearing connecting the high speed and drive shafts, an overrunning clutch associated with the low speed shaft having an inner and an outer member on the low speed shaft, gearing connecting said drive shaft and inner member, sprockets on said high speed shaft and outer member, a chain engaging the sprockets, clutch means for clutching the sprocket on the high speed shaft thereto, a driving connection between said outer member and cam shaft, means operable by said cam shaft for operating said clutch means, and brake means operable by said cam shaft for acting on said cam shaft.

3. Drive mechanism for a machine of the class described comprising in combination, a housing, a high speed shaft rotatable therein, a low speed shaft rotatable therein, concentric drive and cam shafts journalled in the housing, gearing connecting the high speed and drive shafts, an overrunning clutch associated with the low speed shaft having an inner and an outer member on the low speed shaft, gearing connecting said drive shaft and inner member, sprockets on said high. speed shaft and outer member, a chain engaging the sprockets, clutch means for clutching the sprocket on the high speed shaft thereto, a driving connection between said outer member and cam shaft, and means operable by said cam shaft for operating said clutch means, said connections between the cam shaft and outer member including a sprocket on the low speed shaft and a sprocket frictionally engaging said cam shaft and a sprocket chain.

EDMUND J. ROBICI-IAUD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,481,245 Klausineyer Jan. 15, 1924 1,951,424 Lewis Mar. 20, 1934 2,255,739 Curtis Sept. 9, 1941 2,270,310 Kelley Jan. 20, 1942 2,278,983 Fuller Apr. 7, 1942 

